10. Maya

10

MAYA

Still floating on a cloud of happiness, I slip on a T-shirt and crawl into bed. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I wish I had something to give to Cade. Then I remember seeing a package of hamburger in the freezer. I don't have a present for under the tree, but I can cook him an Italian dinner. I toss the covers back to head downstairs. Because I'm in a hurry and don't take the time to turn on the lights, I bump into a table by the door and knock a lamp to the floor. Grateful it didn't break, I scoop it up to set it back in its place.

I'm halfway down the hallway when a door flies open. Cade steps out, wearing only a towel and pointing a gun at my chest.

"Whoa!" I toss my hands in the air.

"I thought you were a burglar." He hits the light switch.

"In a blizzard?" I drop my arms. "You think someone is going to break into your house during a storm?"

"Who knows?" He stares at me for a heartbeat, his eyes slowly drifting down my body. "That's my shirt."

"Do you want it back?"

"No." He flashes his pearly whites. "It looks much better on you."

I shudder under his gaze. I step back, and that's when it registers. He's naked underneath that towel. I take the sight of him in. The dark wet hair. A broad bare chest that is… I lick my lips… magnificent. Everywhere my eyes roam I see bright colored ink decorating his skin. He's chiseled. He's muscular. But most of all, he's beautiful. When my eyes dip down to the V holding up his towel, heat blazes across my cheeks. I don't dare to look into his eyes.

"I need water."

I make a dash for the stairs and don't stop moving until I hit the kitchen.

My heart is pounding. My mouth is dry. And I have to hold onto the counter to keep my knees from buckling. Desperate to snuff out the fire erupting inside of my body, I turn on the water, put my mouth under the faucet, and guzzle.

"We have plenty of glasses, duchess."

I jump up, smacking the top of my head against the stainless steel. "Ow!" I yelp.

"Are you all right? Do you need some ice?"

"I'm fine." I rub my scalp. "Why did you sneak up on me like that?"

"I live here, remember." He chuckles.

I turn around, grateful he's put on a pair of sweatpants. "I know, smart aleck."

He moves in close. "I need to do something."

"What is that?" I tug the hem of the T-shirt down.

"I want to kiss you."

"What?" I tip my head back and blink.

"I need to kiss you."

He tucked a loose curl behind my ear. "You need to kiss me? Why?" Which is a stupid, stupid question.

I don't care why. I want him to kiss me.

He strokes the side of my face, slips his hand around the back of my neck, and pulls me to his bare chest.

I puff out a breath. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

He's so close I can't think straight. It must be why I asked such a dumb question.

"Nope." He smiles innocently. "Ready?"

Gazing down at me with hooded eyes, he takes my chin in his hand. "I've been thinking about this all day."

"You have?" I squeak out.

"I have."

Looking into my eyes, he asks, "May I kiss you, duchess?"

"Yes," I whisper. "Yes, you may."

He takes my mouth, soft at first until he's drinking from me like dying of thirst. I arch into him, my breasts pressed against the hard plane of his chest. Heat smolders across my skin until it settles low in my belly. I'm burning up. He smells of pine and soap. My two new favorite scents.

"Thank you, duchess." He whispers against my lips. "Now I can sleep. Good night." He kisses the tip of my nose. "Sweet dreams."

I'm panting as he walks away.

Panting and grinning like a Cheshire cat.

When I make it back to my room, my lips are still tingling from his kiss. I climb under the covers, still smiling, and start to drift off when the sound of my phone startles me. I snatch my cell from the nightstand and see Sabrina's name.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?" My sister hisses.

"It's a long story. But don't worry. I'm fine."

"We've been calling you over and over."

"There hasn't been any phone service because of the storm." I flop back down on the mattress. "And I wouldn't be surprised if it cuts out again."

"Father was planning on going to the police tomorrow to report you missing. We have all been so worried."

"I'm sorry. Please tell everyone I'm fine. As soon as the roads are safe to drive on, I'll be home."

"But where are you?" Sabrina whines. "Christmas Eve is tomorrow."

"I know. I'm sorry, but I won't be there. I'm stuck in Thunder Ridge."

"Thunder Ridge? What on earth are you doing out there? That's no man's land."

I have to come up with a lie to tell her. I'm not ready to share my plans because I know my family will try to talk me out of my dream. "I was in Aspen finishing up my Christmas shopping when it started to snow, and I got lost."

"You drove to Aspen to shop? Why didn't you take one of father's planes?"

"I don't know. I felt like driving." It's time to change the subject fast. "How are you doing? Are the boys excited for Santa?"

Sabrina launches into everything she's been doing for the holidays and I thank my lucky stars.

"I'm sorry I'm going to miss it. Take lots of pictures for me." I turn onto my side.

"Where are you staying? Please tell me you are not stuck in one of those seedy motels."

There aren't any seedy motels in Thunder Ridge. But I don't bother to correct her. "I'm staying with a friend."

"A friend? You have a friend in Thunder Ridge?"

"I do. I met him a few years ago."

"Him?" Sabrina giggles. "Tell me more."

"Remember that charity event I did three years ago in Denver?"

"Yes. The one for the Frostwolves."

"That's the one… well I…"

"Wait! Please do not tell me you are with a hockey player!"

I kick my feet into the mattress. I should have kept my mouth shut. "Cade is a nice guy, sis. A very nice guy."

"You're with Cade Wylie? Oh, Maya! Remember how you thought Andre was a nice guy, too?" She snaps. "They're all dirtbags."

"Sabrina, you don't really believe that, do you?"

"Of course I do. You can't be with a hockey player, Maya." Her voice gets low. "I don't want you to get hurt like I did. Please. I don't want that for you."

"Oh, honey, I'm fine. I promise. You kiss my nephews for me and tell them that Auntie Maya has tons of presents for them. I'll be home soon. I love you, Sabrina. Don't worry about me."

"I love you, too. And I do worry. It's my job as your older sister."

"Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas. Be careful, Maya."

When she ends the call, I roll over to watch the snow fall through the window. I allow my thoughts to drift back to Cade and his spectacular chest. My eyes start to close when my phone rings again. I don't bother to look at the screen.

"Sabrina, please stop worrying about me. I'm fine."

"This isn't Sabrina."

The tone in the male voice makes my blood run cold.

"Father?" I bolt upright.

"Enjoy your little tryst, Maya. Make the most of it. But know this…"

I suck in a deep breath.

"You will never be in a relationship with the likes of Cade Wylie. It's not what we have planned for you. You will marry Richard Stein on January eighteenth. We have the venue selected. The invitations have been sent. So, get it out of your system, Maya. Do what you will. But when you return home, there will be no mention of Cade Wylie. Do you understand?"

My body is vibrating in fear from head to toe. "Father…"

"Hush. Do you understand what I am saying to you?"

"Yes."

The call goes dead.

And a part of my soul dies.

The weight of the world crushing my chest. As soon as this storm ends, my life will be over. I want to cry, to scream. But I can't. I'm too numb.

My sister betrayed me. My father is forcing me to marry a horrible man for financial gains. My dream of building my own life, my own house will never come true. I'm trapped.

I squeeze my eyes shut, consumed by an overwhelming sense of dread.

If I ignore my father, I know what he'll do. He won't do anything to me. He'll ruin Cade.

I won't allow that to happen.

As soon as the storm is over, I will leave. If I'm lucky, I have two more days with him.

And I'm going to make every minute count.